Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-30
SOME RADICAL KNIGHTS.
The Labor Element That Wants War
All the Time.
PowDERLY's POLICY NOT SUFFICIENTLY AGGRESSIVE
AN ORGANIZED EFFORT TO DRPOsE THE GENERAL
EXECUTIVE BOARD.

From the Philsdelphis Times
'It is time that something be done, !" said prom
inent Knight OF Labor YESTERDAY, in alusion to the
proposed convention at Harrisburg. ''The order
seems to me to have become demoralized and use
less and unless radical change be effected in its
government see nothing but utter extinction to
look forward to-"
Evidently the specific object OF the convention
the consideration OF labor enactments by the leg
islature-was held by the speaker to be of little
consequence compared with the general position
of the order This, in the opinion OF many leaders
in the movement, is unstable and unsatisfactory,
and the consequence of rather widespread dis
content is the creation OF party within the order
who distinctly pledged to effect a radical
change in its principles and government Stead
lily, but secretly, their work OF organization pro-
greSses Many local assemblies are entirely CON
assembly executive boards Is determined by their
votes.
the executive OF District Assembly, No. 1. 1t was
an open secret that the general executive board
hud used all its influence for the election OF James
McFeeley to the Office OF master workman of the
district. To this scheme determined opposition
was given by the more radical and advanced deie-
gates and the result was the defeat OF the general
executive board by the election OF Edward Moore.
one OF the most pronounced opponents TO the
policy OF conservatism which is said TO shape the
government OF the order.
DIscONrENT OF THE RADICALS.
The growing discomfort, which is an almost
avowed feature of the present position OF the
Knights Of Labor, is mainly due to what is re-
garded by the radicals as the 'mastery inactivity
OF MIR. P0wderY. He is not sufficiently aggressive
to suit the nO-Surrender element, to whom mO6er-
alton Is treachery and caution cowardice Be-
cause he does not approve OF indiscrmnate boy
colts he is considered weakened and 1rreso-
lutte, and when opposed TO prectpitate and
ill-advised strikes is denounced as wanting in the
first capacities OF leadership. His action for in
stance In preventing a lockout OF nearly one nun
6rn6 fhOyEA MI hands in fhiS eitv tad at
the time as gratu1tOus interference with what
did not directly come within the scope OF his
possible Identification OF the knights OF Labor
with Chicago anarchtsm raised perfect howl Of
execration by the malcontents OF the order.
PROGRAM OF THE DISAFfECTED.
The disaffected element have program and
policy. The former Is the obiiteraton OF the gen.
eral executive board and the latter q more deter
mined, more pronounced, and more aggressive
assertion OF the rights OF labor" AT present the
PRONUNCIATION OF the doctrines OF revolt and the
enlistment OF recruits are the order OF pro-
cedure but in october all secrecy will be
Se tns se and aSe E
will be used to strike a decisive blow at the Old
regime. The resolution Of the Richmond conven-
OF Office Of the general executive board VIII be
first assaiied. II the new party succeed I'm
o es change IN 5n
viii be succeeded by more radical leader and IL
Is doubtful II any OF his colleagues escape the
proposed sacrifice OF expiation.
STRENGTH OF TIE MALCoNTRKTN.
It is claimed that the number Of knights who
are disaected with the present state OF affairs is
much greater than il dreamed OF in MI. Powderlys
philosophy. AS proof the recent applications
for District Assembly and national trades charters
Is adduced The mRchinlStS, the texttle-w6rkers,
the sh0emakers and other trades combinations
that applied for and were granted charters are
stated to be bitterly opposed TO the condition or
their own Affairs are represented as being deter
mined for q change. At Richmond, Chicago, New
York. Brooklyn. Newark, andin many other places
the locals are said TO antagOnize the present adj
ministratiOn and will send TO the convention at
Minneapolis those delegates only who will vote for
a oh0